554 
bibliopolifts, they, to be fure, are open at 
all hours, and to all comers. Into the 
fhops of bookfellers no introdu€tion is re- 
guired, and for their frequentation nothing 
more is neceflary than the regular pay- 
ment of cafual purchafes. But into thefe, 
a man of letters, who has any degree of 
“Anecdotes of M. Florian. 
[July 1, 
.modefty, dares not enter; one, it is to be 
-underftocd, of the defcription before bint- 
ed at, who only eccafionally expends a 
fpare fhilling in the purchafe of fome 
old book, which, being confidered as the 
refufe of the fhelf it ftood on within, is 
expofed to fale without-fide of the fhop. 
ANECDOTES OF EMINENT PERSONS. 
BIOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT of the late. 
M. FLORIAN, by A. J. ROSNY. 
Jean PieERRE CLARIS DE FLORIAN 
was born inthe year 1755, at the Cha- 
teau de Florian, in the province of Lan- 
zuedoc. Hisfather, Charles Claris, was a 
gentleman of {mall fortune, who, being by 
no means of an’ enterprifing difpofition, 
died poor. His mother was Gillette de 
Salone, a Caftillian Spaniard; and it may 
be prefumed that in this cireumftance ori- 
ginated that high efteem and peculiar af- 
fe&tion which Florian has fince expreffed 
for that fenfible, generous, and high-fpi- 
rited nation. This affetionate mother 
had impofed upon herfelf the honorable 
tafk of rearing her own child; but was 
prevented by the hand of death: the died 
in child-bed, and the care of young Florian 
devolved wholly on his father from the 
hour of his birth. Though the fortune of 
Charles Claris was very {mall, he negle¢t- 
ed no means which might tend to expand 
thofe talents which he early difcovered in 
his fon. He obtained for him the beft 
matters, and {pared no expence nor trou- 
ble in the fuperintendance of his education, 
and the cultivation of his mind. In his 
earlieft days young Florian difplayed that: 
love of his fellow-creatures whichever after 
fo ftrongly marked bis character ; and he 
évinced even in infancy that fuavity of man- 
ders and benevolence of difpofition, which 
have fince rendered him fo univerfally 
efteemed. He would joyfully beltow upon 
an unfortunate objet of charity, the little 
funds allewed him for his pleafures. In- 
different to the paftimes of-children of his 
own age, he conflantly fought opportuni- 
ties of being alone, and always preferred 
the moft gloomy and folitary places of 
retirement.- When he was once afked the 
reafon of fo extraordinary a propenfity ; 
he anfwered * [ love to refleét, and to com- 
template the beauties of nature.”” It is 
univerially known that every day of his 
life was marked by acis of benevolence. 
His noble generofiry began to manifelt 
itfelf at a very early pericd. Ata fhort 
diftance from the Chateau de Florian there 
was a cottage inhabited by an unfortunate 
old labourer, whofe age and infirmities 
had incapacitated him from working ; and 
had reduced him to a miferable dependence 
on the precarious fupplies of charity. In 
one of his rural rambles young Florian 
happened to meet this unfortunate old cot- 
tager. His young heart beat violently at 
the fight of fo much mifery ; he followed the 
old man home; and then for the firft time 
experienced the want of wealth. He how- 
ever drew out his purfe, and, prefenting it 
to the old man with an ingenuous apology 
for the {mall value of its contents, promi- 
fed to make amends for it by frequently 
vifiting this abode of poverty. He kept 
his word, and regularly carried thither all 
the little prefents which were given hina 
under the denomination of pocket-money. 
Thefe frequent walks, as. well~as the — 
quick difappearance of his money, were at 
length obferved by his father. He wifhed 
to afcertain how his fon employed his time 
and his money, and determined to watch 
him. Florian quitted the cafile one da 
to take his ufual walk; his father follow- 
ed him to the cottage ; and faw him depo- 
fit in the hands of the poor cottager the 
pecuniary allowance of a whole week. 
Charles Claris, unable to conceal his emo- 
tion at fuch a trait of benevolence, difco- 
vered himfelf, clafped his nobie fon to his 
breaft, and bathed his'cheeks with tears of 
moit tender delight. Many fmilar traits 
of his fenfibility and benevolence might be 
mentioned.« His occupations and amufe- 
ments were always of a nature much fupe- 
rior to thofe of other children of the fame 
age. Hetooka particular pleafure in con- 
ftruéting bird cages, and rearing birds ; 
and he never entrufted to any other 
’ than himlelf the charge of feeding them. 
He alfo employed much of his time in the 
cultivation of flowers, and in learning the 
the art-of gardening. ‘The gardener of 
the Chateau, who was at once his mafter 
and friend, experienced a real pleafure in 
inftruéting his young pupil in all the myf 
teries of his_profefhien. 
; | ; engaged 
Agriculture alfo - 
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a ae " oe 
a a) 
